It may have been a tough year for the economy, but that doesn't seem to have had much of an effect on Surrey's millionaires

It may have been a tough year for the economy, but that doesnt seem to have had much of an effect on Surreys millionaires in fact, many of them have even increased their fortunes. Here, we bring you our annual guide to the wealthiest people in the county, compiled by Philip Beresford, the writer of the Sunday Times Rich List

With grateful thanks to our sponsors Coutts & Co in Guildford and Paul James Jewellers in Oxted

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Dr Philip, 73, and Patricia Brown, 71Media130m (no change)

IT WAS back in 1976 that Dr Philip Brown launched Richmond-based PJB Publishing to provide market research and financial information for the bioscience industries. In 2003, Brown and his wife Patricia sold the business for 150m. The Browns have other business interests, too, including the Warren House Conference Centre in Kingston and the SG Court pharmacy group, with over 27.5m net assets between them. After allowing for tax and re-investment in the new ventures, we value the Browns at 130m.

BASED out of Caterham, Croudace Homes made a good recovery in 2009, moving from a 28.4m loss into a 1.5m profit. They also have over 77.3m net assets. Croudace Homes is but one part of the property to housebuilding operation run by the Brotherton-Ratcliffe family. The family also owns Croudace Properties Group and Maybrook Properties, which are faring well. Between them, the two made around 8.3m profit in 2008 when they showed over 89m net assets. We value the three businesses at around 120m. Other assets take the family to 135m after-tax.

18

Sir Ray Tindle, 83Media145m (no change)

Farnham-based Tindle Press Holdings made 4m profit on 46m sales in 2008-09. It is run and owned by Sir Ray Tindle who began his career on various Surrey newspapers before starting his first title, The Tooting & Balham Gazette, in the 1960s. Tindle Press Holdings is worth perhaps 120m in the current climate. Other assets take Tindle to 145m.

16=

Aref Karim and family, 57 Finance150m (NEW)

Hedge fund manager Aref Karim qualified as a chartered accountant in 1978. After gaining experience in Abu Dhabi, he returned to the UK to found Quality Capital Management in 1995. The Weybridge-based hedge fund made 42.9m profit on 49.3m sales in 2008. Karim and his family own at least 97 per cent of the 150m operation. Past dividends and other assets take them to 150m.

16=

Johnny, 64, and Patrick Byrne, 61Construction150m (NEW)

BASED IN Barnes, just outside Richmond, the Byrne Group building company has defied the recession by posting record profits of 11m on sales of 326.2m in the year to May 2009. Founded in 1973, the business is run and owned by Irish brothers Johnny and Patrick Byrne. Past salaries and dividends take them to 150m.

15

Theo Paphitis, 50Retail160m (last year 145m)

A WELL-KNOWN fixture on TV show Dragons Den, Theo Paphitis has lived in Surrey for over 25 years, first in Carshalton before moving to Oxshott, Cobham and finally Weybridge.

Born in Cyprus, he came to Britain as a child, and his first job when he left school was helping make the tea at a Lloyds insurer. He later started to specialise in turning round companies in trouble, reviving stricken brands such as stationery firm Ryman, and lingerie chains Contessa and La Senza.

Football is another business close to his heart; he was chairman of Millwall for eight years, taking it out of administration and into the FA Cup Final, and he is also a director of local club Walton & Hersham.

In addition, he has commercial properties all round the UK and, in total, should be worth around 160m.

14

Sir Mick Jagger, 66Music190m (no change)

After the exertions of the two-year Bigger Bang tour, which ended in August 2007, the Rolling Stones have been recuperating of late.

There is no word yet whether the band will go on the road again, but it will be difficult to beat the 390m gross box office receipts achieved on the last tour. In all, the Stones have generated 1.8 billion in receipts from touring since 1989.

On the recording front, the band signed a new long-term recording deal with Universal Records in 2008.

Meanwhile, the groups charismatic frontman, Sir Mick Jagger, has been busy working on a remastered version of their classic 1972 album, Exile on Main Street.

Past royalty earnings, his property and investment portfolio, song rights and the touring income keep Richmond-based Jagger at 190m.

13

Andrew Wates, 69Construction220m (last year 115m)

Construction group Wates, based in Leatherhead, saw its profits jump by nearly 10m to 47m on sales of over 1 billion in 2008. They have a strong order book and should be worth around 180m on these figures.

Owned by Andrew Wates and his family, he retired as chairman in 2006, but they still own all the shares. Other assets should take them up to around 220m after-tax.

12

Surinder Arora and family, 51Leisure234m (last year 140m)

Arora Holdings, the hotel company owned by Wentworth-based Surinder Arora and his family, saw its net assets rise to 227m in 2008-09 on the back of their new Sofitel at Heathrows Terminal 5.

Today, the Arora portfolio comprises 16, mainly airport-based hotels at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester. Their next project is a hotel at The Oval, home to Surrey County Cricket Club.

Having begun his career as an office junior at BA, Arora pushed the family savings into setting up B&B accommodation opposite Heathrow. From that emerged his first hotel, and a deal with BA to accommodate its air crews, and he never looked back.

We value the business on its net asset figure, adding around 7m for other assets to the Arora family.

10=

Nicholas, 37, and Christian Candy, 35Property300m (last year 330m)

Brothers Nick and Christian Candy, who specialise in the luxury housing market, were valued by their corporate finance chief at 750m in September last year.

Born in Banstead, the sons of an advertising executive, they were educated at Epsom College and later went on to form their own property company, buying and making over houses from Moscow to Monaco, and from London to the Middle East. They have recently branched out into luxury yachts and private jets, too.

Despite their huge financial firepower at their CPC operation, in the current climate we cautiously value the Candy brothers at 300m.